GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Grand Rapids school board tonight discussed the three new hybrid online options for high school the Kent Intermediate School District and its superintendents are offering this school year.

The new hybrid school platform offers instructor-led online learning options combined with face-to-face teaching, plus a success coach to mentor.The personalized learning available with certified teachers include: MySchool@Kent, MySchool@Local and SuccessLink. A fourth PK-20 option is in the works tied to college classes and credit.

"As life changes for many of these students, I think it's a really good idea to expand all of our options," said board member Maureen Slade.

Ron Gorman, executive director of high schools for Grand Rapids, told the board administrators are asking their interested students to work with their counseling department to make sure that the classes they take are the ones they need to graduate.

As the former Creston High School principal, he said he likes the options because he saw many opportunities where students, because of their schedule, had many limitations as to what they could take.

"I think with creating a hybrid environment where students could have up to 50 classes, some of which aren't offered in district schools, I think it is a pretty good opportunity for students to recover some classes, take some Advanced Placement classes or get a head start on college."

Board member Tony Baker wanted to know what the impact is or could be in relationship to students choosing a hybrid option rather than making the traditional school option work.

"I would hate to see this become our option for alternative schools," he said. "It immediately sounds fantastic with all the options. I just want to make sure the students will get all of their needs met."

Gorman said the district is not replacing anything, just offering another options. He said the district needs to make sure it is doing the very best it can with alternative education.

"I think we have to look at it as just one more option for students," said Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal, who said Baker has a point and will have counselors involved in tracking their progress.

Students in the program receive laptops with wireless Internet access. They can go to their school for a partial day and take the rest of their classes online, or do a full day hybrid online programs for both core and elective curriculum. All choices allow participating in sports and after-school activities.

Below is a description of the options:

• SuccessLink: For students who have dropped out or been expelled. Geared toward those who like learning at their own pace, own time and more online. Laptops are provided and students are paired with an online teacher, a face-to-face teacher who can be accessed and a success coach that connects daily, virtually or in person, to make sure students are on track academically.

• MySchool@Kent: For students who want to engage in an online learning environment that still has a face-to-face teacher component but on a less frequent basis. They will remain in their local district but would come to the Kent Career Technical Center a minimum of two days a week, where there are learning labs, content specialists, teachers and success coach support. Internships for relevant experience are also a component.

•MySchool@Local (fill in local district): For students currently enrolled in a local district who need one or more online courses, accessed via the district website.

Email: mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/GRPScotty.